Travis County, TX
Travis County, TX is hiring: Social Worker in Texas City
Travis County, TX, Texas City, TX, US, 77592
Salary: $61,018.23 - $80,000.00 Annually
Location : Texas, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 25-10237
Department: Community Legal Services
Opening Date: 09/30/2025
Closing Date: 10/30/2025 11:59 PM Central
Job Summary
Travis County Child Representation provides high-quality legal representation and other support to children and youth involved in the Travis County child welfare system. The social worker will collaborate with staff attorneys to assist child-clients in suits filed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Social workers will build professional and trusting relationships with clients and assist attorneys in advocating for clients' needs through knowledge of child development, trauma informed care, education, community
resources, and case management.
Provides social work services to clients and families to include case management, psychosocial and/or needs assessments. Develops client/family individualized service plans and monitors progress. Utilizes community resources to assist clients and their families and provides client/family education, training and advocacy.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This is a job classification within the Social Services job family. This classification is distinguished from other social services classes due to the social work functions and services provided to clients. This classification performs case management, psychosocial and/or needs assessments, develops client service plans and accesses community resources to assist clients. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.
Duties and Responsibilities
Education and Experience:
Master's degree in Social Work AND two (2) years social work experience counseling individuals in crisis/trauma situations.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Valid Texas Driver's License.
Preferred:
Experience with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Practical experience engaging with the client population.
Ability to fluently speak and write in Spanish.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. Works some nights
Location: 1700 Guadalupe, 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
Department: Community Legal Services
Criminal, Driving Background Checks Required.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide
In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.
Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.
Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.
Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.
Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.
Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.
Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:
New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.
Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.
Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.
Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:
January - March
3 personal holidays
April - June
2 personal holidays
July - September
1 personal holiday
October - December
None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.
Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.
Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.
Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:
0 to 5 years
4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years
4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years
5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years
5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years
6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation
The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.
Location : Texas, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 25-10237
Department: Community Legal Services
Opening Date: 09/30/2025
Closing Date: 10/30/2025 11:59 PM Central
Job Summary
Travis County Child Representation provides high-quality legal representation and other support to children and youth involved in the Travis County child welfare system. The social worker will collaborate with staff attorneys to assist child-clients in suits filed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Social workers will build professional and trusting relationships with clients and assist attorneys in advocating for clients' needs through knowledge of child development, trauma informed care, education, community
resources, and case management.
Provides social work services to clients and families to include case management, psychosocial and/or needs assessments. Develops client/family individualized service plans and monitors progress. Utilizes community resources to assist clients and their families and provides client/family education, training and advocacy.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This is a job classification within the Social Services job family. This classification is distinguished from other social services classes due to the social work functions and services provided to clients. This classification performs case management, psychosocial and/or needs assessments, develops client service plans and accesses community resources to assist clients. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Identify community resources to assist clients, including, but not limited to, medical resources, local, state, and federal agencies, community-based agencies, and other resources.
- Maintain current knowledge about resource availability.
- Use evidence-based practices and remains current with standards of profession.
- Participate in and coordinate case reviews involving client/family and other service providers.
- Meet with the clients and caregivers in a setting appropriate to assess the client's needs and goals.
- Collaborate with the assigned attorney on a case plan and monitor progress.
- Help identify appropriate placements for child clients in the community.
- Attend court proceedings, negotiations, and mediations, as necessary.
- Support clients in preparing for and participating in court proceedings, mediations, and out-of-court advocacy efforts.
- Attend case planning meetings facilitated by the Department of Family and Protective Services, such as permanency conferences, Circles of Support, Family Team Meetings, as well as educational and other meetings.
- Review all relevant records and case-related information, including psychological, psychosocial, and psychiatric evaluations.
- Participate in out of court advocacy with service providers, schools, placements, and DFPS.
- Communicate regularly with care contacts, such as foster parents, kinship resources, DFPS case workers, service providers, and school personnel.
- Complete individualized needs assessment.
- Observe visitation between parents and children.
- Maintain updated case data, client notes, and legal files.
- Identify systemic issues and participate in advocacy efforts
- Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience:
Master's degree in Social Work AND two (2) years social work experience counseling individuals in crisis/trauma situations.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Valid Texas Driver's License.
Preferred:
Experience with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Practical experience engaging with the client population.
Ability to fluently speak and write in Spanish.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
- Theoretical constructs of human development and social work theory and practices.
- Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
- Local and statewide placement options for children in the Department of Family and Protective Services conservatorship.
- Local social services, organizations, and the programs and resources available.
- Therapeutic approaches, the impact of trauma on children, and trauma informed care
- Modern office practices, procedures and methods.
- May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.
- Counseling and providing crisis and other assistance to clients.
- Assessing the medical, psychosocial and environmental status of clients.
- Determining types of counseling, social service provider and other services indicated for clients.
- Therapeutic techniques used in trauma, grief or crisis situations.
- Interviewing and obtaining information from clients and other sources.
- Problem-solving and decision-making.
- Both verbal and written communication.
- Cultural competence communication adn teh ability to identify and engage with diffrent groups
- Work as part of a collaborative team.
- Accept and embrace the challenges inherent in the child welfare field.
- Apply social work and counseling theory, practice, and procedures.
- Work compassionately and respectfully with clients, relative caregivers, and foster parents.
- Work effectively and courteously under high-pressure circumstances.
- Prepare accurate and complete records and reports.
- Remain objective evaluating emotional challenging cases.
- Handle difficult conversations with tact and empathy.
- Demonstrate consistent, sound, and mature judgment.
- Manage time well and meet timelines.
- Participate as an advocate for clients in multidisciplinary meetings such as admission, dismissal meetings, family team meetings, and circles of support.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with DFPS, representatives of other County employees and officials, as well as the general public.
- Travel to various areas in Austin and surrounding counties in Texas to visit clients.
- Use current technology, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Dropbox, etc.
Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. Works some nights
Location: 1700 Guadalupe, 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
Department: Community Legal Services
Criminal, Driving Background Checks Required.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide
In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.
Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.
Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.
Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.
Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.
Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.
Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:
- Dental
- Vision
- Supplemental Life, AD&D
- Dependent Life
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- Long Term Care
New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.
Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.
Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.
Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:
January - March
3 personal holidays
April - June
2 personal holidays
July - September
1 personal holiday
October - December
None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.
Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.
Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.
Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:
0 to 5 years
4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years
4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years
5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years
5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years
6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation
The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.